Central Croatia is defined by the rivers Sava, Drava and Mura. It is a continental region characterized by valleys transpersed with hills on which mediaeval forts were built, it is also a region of villages surrounded by vineyards and castles that once belonged to aristocracy, surrounded by forests. Here are also big cities like Zagreb. Zagreb is not only a centre of the region, but it is also the capital of Croatia. It lies at the foot of the Medvednica mountain and on the banks of the river Sava. Around Zagreb, there are many small towns and beautiful places great for day trips, as Samobor. Samobor is located in a magnificent environment and has rich gastronomic offer. Velika Gorica is situated by the Zagreb airport and east of Velika Gorica is the Turopolje region. This part of Croatia is also interesting for its traditional peasant houses made of wood.

Behind Medvednica lies Croatian Zagorje, the region of many villages, small towns, picturesque hills, vineyards as well as numerous cultural and historical monuments. Once this was the centre of peasant uprisings against feudal landlords. In the vicinity is Marija Bistrica. Since the Middle Ages pilgrims come here to worship the miraculous image of Mary with child. Here is also a health spa Stubičke Toplice, one of the most important ressorts in the wider neighbourhood of Zagreb.

The biggest town of Croatian Zagorje is Krapina. In the vicinity of Krapina the remains of a Neanderthal prehistoric man were found. The town has a richly decorated franciscan church. Near Krapina is Veliki Tabor, a mediaeval fort finished in the 15th century and the castle Miljana, built from the 17th to the 19th centuries. North from Krapina there is the castle of Trakošćan dating from the Middle Ages. The estate with its castle and the surrounding lake is one of the most beautiful of its kind in Croatia.

On the right bank of the Sava river is the town of Varaždin, it has a rich culture and history. Near Varaždin there are few castles. The Varaždin thermal spa was known already in Roman times. In this part of Croatia there are some interesting small towns, as Čakovec, which evolved out of a mediaeval hill fort and Koprivnica, smaller centre with famous food industrie. At the foot of the Kalnik mountain lie the town of Križevci, rich in cultural and historic monuments. The parrish church of Križevci dates from the 14th century. On the southern side of Bilogora mountain is the town of Bjelovar, it was a well known market town in the Middle Ages. South of Bjelovar is the town of Kutina, which parrish church is one of the most richly decorated Baroque churches in Croatia. Not far from Kutina is the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje.

South from Zagreb is the town of Karlovac, the town of four rivers, built in the 16th century. Among smaller towns of the region the most romantic is Ozalj, built on a high cliff above the river Kupa. The region around Karlovac is famous for its wines, this is particularly related to the wines from Jastrebarsko. In the region is Jamnica, one of the most important mineral water sources in Croatia. Fifty kilometers from Zagreb down the Sava river is the town of Sisak, its beginnings date back to the times of Roman and Celts. From Petrinja towards Petrova Gora lies Topusko, whose thermal spa was known already in Roman times. The road from Karlovac to Plitvice leads through Slunj, on the entrance of which there is a bridge offering a view on the old watermills on the Slunjčica river.